Terps women play exhibition Sunday

October 29, 1998|By FROM STAFF REPORTS

The Maryland women's basketball team begins its preseason Sunday at 4 p.m. when it faces Tapiolan of Finland in an exhibition game at Cole Field House.

Terps coach Chris Weller will enter her 24th season without starters Tiffany Brown and Kelley Gibson, both of whom suffered late-summer setbacks. Brown, last season's point guard, was ruled academically ineligible after the summer semester. Gibson tore her right anterior cruciate ligament in September.

The absence of Brown and Gibson, the graduation of Sonia Chase, Stephanie Cross and Kalisa Davis means that Branka Bogunovic is the only substantive returnee from last season's squad that finished 15-13, 7-9 in the ACC.

Brown, a junior who averaged 7.3 points per game in 1997-98, said her task for now is to provide leadership until her scheduled return in late December.

"I'm just trying to show the younger players what being in the ACC is all about," Brown said. "I've just got to cheer them on, and help them if they have any question."

Maryland opens its season at home Nov. 14 against North Carolina-Greensboro.